In the ancient Bugis way of life in Indonesia, gender non-binary ‘bissu’ were once revered spiritual leaders. Eka, one of the last remaining bissu, decides to leave behind their identity, searching for belonging in a world that insists on definitions.
Project Background
Born into the Bugis community of South Sulawesi, Indonesia, Eka has built a hardworking life as a wedding decorator and a beloved fixture of the village. Yet beneath Eka’s cheerful exterior lies a deeper search for meaning.
Among the Bugis, gender identity has long been seen as fluid. Eka once trained as a ‘bissu’ the indigenous spiritual leader believed to embody both masculine and feminine souls.
But in a modern world that increasingly sees the bissu as relics of the past, Eka finds themselves torn between tradition, faith, and self. As the country grows more polarised, Eka makes a life-changing choice: to undertake the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, a journey that means letting go of their gender-fluid identity but would place Eka in a respected social stature.
Through this journey, the film explores identity, spirituality, and the quiet courage it takes to find belonging in a world that insists on definitions.
